University Living

- Practical advice for students

Accommodation advice

Information and advice about university managed accommodation can be found on the Student Accommodation page of the Prospective Students website. The University of London Housing Service
also offers advice and support to UCL students seeking accommodation in
the private sector - please see their website for details. The UCL Rights and Advice Centre can help you resolve disputes or grievances should they arise during your tenancy.

Banking

You are strongly advised to arrange your student bank account before or
immediately after arriving at UCL. Further information about the
documents you may need can be found on our Opening a Bank
Account page.

Council tax

If you live in university halls, or in a house
where everyone is classed as a full-time student for Council Tax
purposes, you’ll be exempt from paying Council Tax. The rules are
different if you live with someone who’s not a full-time student – but
your household could still get a discount. For more information please visit the UK government website.

Fees and Funding

Full information about
student fees and funding for the 2014/15 session can be found on the Student Fees page.

Insurance

Students are strongly advised to
insure their personal possessions,
regardless of where they will be living whilst attending
university. There are many different companies which provide insurance
for students - for general advice and guidance on insurance please visit
the Money Advice Service website.

Other money matters

You must ensure that you have
sufficient funds to cover all
your expenses whilst you are studying at UCL. In addition to your
tuition fees, you will also need to cover the basic costs such as
accommodation, food and
personal expenses. The UCL Financial Advice and Support website has lots of useful information including helpful money saving tips and hints as well as advice if you do find yourself in financial difficulty. The Money Advice Service website also gives helpful tips
on how to manage your money, including a useful budget planner tool.

Surviving
in London on a limited budget is easier than you
might think, and there are student reductions for local travel and many
social, cultural and leisure events - don't be afraid to ask.

The key to success is to learn how to budget. You may
like to use a budget calculator such as www.studentcalculator.org.uk
to help you to plan your finances.

Full-time
students are eligible for the Transport for
London travel discount scheme - please see our Travel Information page
for more details.

TV licensing

A TV licence is required to watch or record live television in the UK, even if you are watching on computer or mobile device. Please check the TV licensing website for more details.

Working while you study

If you're a student and you have a job, you'll
have to pay Income Tax and National Insurance if you earn over a certain
amount. This still applies if you work abroad during your holidays, and
if you're a foreign student working in the UK. For full information on working while you study, please the direct.gov website.